The Chicago Blackhawks had a tough decision going into the 2025 NHL draft. They’d just completed another disappointing season, finishing with 25 wins. GM Kyle Davidson had started the rebuild in 2023, but the losing had been going on longer than that. Blackhawks fans were getting tired of being patient. They wanted to see progress. One obvious solution to this was maybe trading the #3 overall pick for a top veteran—somebody who could elevate the team’s young roster around them.
Rumors persisted for weeks that Chicago was fielding calls on the possibility. Then, as the draft approached, they died away. Was the market bad, or did the Blackhawks change their minds about the options available at #3? Davidson finally got his chance to answer this question on 670 The Score. He admitted that conversations about trading the pick did take place. However, none of the offers put forth ever felt serious. Combine that with the team’s growing love for Anton Frondell, and the decision to stay put became easy.
Kyle Davidson made the right decision.
Too often, people in his position feel the outside pressure to do something to satisfy fans rather than doing what’s best for the organization. Trading for a quality veteran might’ve led to immediate results, but it likely wouldn’t have made the Blackhawks a serious Cup threat. Kyle Davidson knows great teams are built through consistently stacking draft picks. He already watched the Blackhawks do it with their dynasty in the 2010s. Deviating from that never made any sense, especially when Frondell represented the kind of complete talent the organization has needed for some time. There will be a time when the Blackhawks can start hunting for top veterans. Now isn’t that time. The process must continue.
Not a fan of Anton Frondell. It’ll be several years before he can skate on United Center ice.